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  • NBA Cup Quarterfinals: Spurs and Thunder set for epic clash + fantasy streaming guide for rest of Week 8

    The Western Conference quarterfinals weren’t short on storylines. Oklahoma City delivered one of the most dominant NBA Cup wins to date, Phoenix hit a historic low and San Antonio continued its midseason surge behind a breakout performance from Stephon Castle. Meanwhile, the Lakers’ stars stuffed the stat sheet, but their defense was nonexistent.

    Here’s a full breakdown of Oklahoma City, Phoenix, San Antonio and Los Angeles — plus fantasy takeaways ahead of Saturday’s semifinal.

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    OKC’s historic pace continues, eclipse Suns by 49 points

    The Thunder entered the night with the league’s best record — and left tied with the 2015–16 Warriors for the best 25-game start in NBA history (24–1). Their 138–89 dismantling of the Suns marked their 16th straight win, shattering multiple franchise marks.

    Oklahoma City shot 59% from the field and 55% from 3, while holding Phoenix to a season-low scoring output.

    • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 28 points (11-15 FG), 8 assists and 3 stocks

    • Chet Holmgren: 24 points (9-13 FG), 8 rebounds, 3 blocks

    • Jalen Williams: 15 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal

    • Lu Dort: 12 points, 4 rebounds and 3 3s

    • Cason Wallace: 9 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals

    SGA extended his streak of 96 straight 20-point games and per usual, dominated the game with ease. Holmgren was equally as disruptive on both ends and the Thunder bench produced 50 points, overwhelming Phoenix from start to finish.

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    Fantasy advice

    The way OKC has been blowing the doors off its opponents, low-usage starters and reserves like Lu Dort, Cason Wallace, Aaron Wiggins, Jaylin Williams and Ajay Mitchell all remain viable streaming options on a small Saturday slate.

    No Booker, no rhythm — and Suns’ worst loss in franchise history

    This was never going to be easy without Devin Booker (groin), but Phoenix played one of its worst games of the season, shooting 39% from the field, committing 20 turnovers and losing by a franchise-worst 49 points. Grayson Allen was tossed after being assessed a Flagrant 2 for fighting through a screen on Holmgren, which was about the only fight Phoenix put up all night.

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    • Dillon Brooks: 16 points (4-16 FG), 2 rebounds and 1 assist

    • Jordan Goodwin: 15 points, 3 rebounds and 2 steals

    • Jamaree Bouyea: 14 points and 6 assists

    • Grayson Allen: 10 points, 4 assists and 1 steal

    Phoenix trailed by as many as 53, generated only 42 points in the paint and struggled to defend OKC’s movement and spacing. While the bench injected some late offense, the Suns couldn’t keep pace without their star. Brooks and Allen were the only starters to hit double-figures.

    Fantasy advice:

    Goodwin and Bouyea are temporary streaming options while Booker remains out. Since the Suns will host the Lakers on Sunday, that should be an opportunity to get right after suffering such an embarrassing loss.

    Stephon Castle goes off as Spurs roll into Vegas

    If Spurs fans were waiting for Stephon Castle’s breakout moment — they got it. The second-year guard put on a show with 30 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists in San Antonio’s 132–119 win over the Lakers. He scored 21 in the second half, repeatedly punishing L.A. with his ability to get downhill and create for others.

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    The Spurs hit 17 3s, won the bench battle by 17 and led by double digits for most of the final three quarters.

    • Stephon Castle: 30 points (10-14 FG), 10 rebounds and 6 assists

    • De’Aaron Fox: 20 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals

    • Harrison Barnes: 16 points, 4 threes, 7 rebounds and 1 steal

    • Julian Champagnie: 16 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 stocks

    • Keldon Johnson: 17 points, 8 rebounds and 1 steal

    • Luke Kornet: 10 points, 8 rebounds and 1 block

    The Spurs have won nine of their last 12 and will look even more dangerous with Victor Wembanyama nearing his return. Saturday is looking like real possibility.

    Fantasy advice:

    Johnson, Champagnie, Barnes and Dylan Harper are all streamable options for Saturday’s game. Pay attention to the injury report because if Wembanyama is out, Kornet is back in play as well.

    Luka and LeBron shine, but Lakers’ D collapses

    L.A. got big nights from its stars, but the perimeter defense once again sank them. The Lakers shot 49% from the field and hit 16 3s, but allowed 132 points and surrendered too many open looks. They weren’t disciplined on defense, failed to keep pace and often fouled in desperation.

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    Despite trimming the deficit late, they couldn’t overcome San Antonio’s offensive rhythm and the significant free-throw gap.

    • Luka Dončić: 35 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds and 1 steal

    • LeBron James: 19 points, 15 rebounds, 8 assists and 3 blocks

    • Marcus Smart: 26 points and 8 3s

    • Austin Reaves: 15 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists

    • Deandre Ayton: 11 points, 8 rebounds and 1 steal

    Fantasy advice:

    I’d ride with Marcus Smart on Sunday since he was so impactful in his return from a six-game absence with a back injury.

    NBA Cup schedule update

    Because Oklahoma City and San Antonio advance to Saturday’s semifinal, the Suns and Lakers each play once more this week — Phoenix hosts the Lakers on Sunday, while the Spurs and Thunder clash in Las Vegas. Let’s hope that Wemby comes back because we know how much he looks forward to battling it out with Chet Holmgren — fireworks!!

  • Robert Suarez, Braves agree to a 3-year, $45 million contract

    The Atlanta Braves and closer Robert Suarez have agreed to a three-year, $45 million deal, the team announced Thursday.

    According to the Braves, Suarez will earn $13 million next season and $16 million in each of the final two years of the contract. He will donate 1% of his salary to the team’s foundation.

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    The 34-year-old Suarez has spent his entire four-season MLB career with the San Diego Padres. He made 70 appearances during the 2025 season, recording a career-high and National League-leading 40 saves in 69 2/3 innings pitched. The right-hander’s production has earned him two straight appearances on the NL All-Star team.

    Suarez’s 76 saves since 2024 are the most in MLB in that span, five more than the tally of Emmanuel Clase of the Cleveland Guardians.

    In November, Suarez opted out of his contract, which had two years and $16 million remaining. Because he was not given a qualifying offer, there is no draft pick compensation coming to the Padres with his departure.

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    The addition of Suarez, one of the best relievers on the market, strengthens the Braves’ bullpen. Last month, they re-signed Raisel Iglesias, who has recorded 96 saves in Atlanta over the past three seasons. According to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, Suarez will serve as the setup man, with Iglesias remaining the team’s closer.

    As they sought more help in the bullpen, Yahoo Sports’ Russell Dorsey reported that the Braves also looked at reliever Devin Williams before he signed with the New York Mets.

  • MLB free agency 2025: Robert Suárez agrees to deal with Braves, Pete Alonso signs with Orioles

    MLB free agency 2025: Robert Suárez agrees to deal with Braves, Pete Alonso signs with Orioles

    The stove remained hot at MLB’s winter meetings, which wrapped up Thursday. The big-name signings continued on the final day, as the Atlanta Braves agreed to a three-year, $45 million deal with closer Robert Suarez.

    Suarez, 34, is coming off a season in which he posted a 2.97 ERA over 69 2/3 innings. He led the league in saves, racking up 40 of them in 2025. That performance earned him his second straight All-Star nod. Although he reached the majors late compared to many other players, Suarez has made up for it by immediately performing well. Through four seasons, he has a career 2.91 ERA.

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    The Braves also have closer Raisel Iglesias on the roster after re-signing him this offseason, so the team will need to decide which player will close games in 2026.

    Suarez’s signing is one of many to occur during the winter meetings. On Wednesday, Pete Alonso signed a five-year, $155 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles. On Tuesday morning, Kyle Schwarber agreed to a five-year, $150 million deal to return to the Philadelphia Phillies. Just minutes later, news broke that Edwin Díaz and the reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly in agreement on a three-year, $69 million deal.

    Schwarber was No. 3 on Yahoo Sports’ list of the top 50 free agents, behind Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman, while Alonso ranked fifth, Díaz 11th and Suarez 28th.

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    MLB executives, agents and many others congregated in Orlando, Florida, this week to hash out deals in the biggest event of baseball’s offseason. Last year’s winter meetings saw Juan Soto’s record $765 million deal with the New York Mets, the Garrett Crochet blockbuster trade to the Boston Red Sox, Max Fried landing with the Yankees and several other major moves.

    This year, Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker is looking for a contract that could surpass $300 million, while Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal might be on the trade block. The Washington Nationals seem likely to deal MacKenzie Gore, and several other free agents could land nine-figure deals.

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    Tuesday also saw the White Sox land the No. 1 pick in the MLB Draft lottery, and Wednesday featured the Rule 5 Draft, with RHP RJ Petit going from the Tigers to the Rockies with the top pick.

    Follow along with Yahoo Sports for all the news, rumors and hot stove drama from the 2025 winter meetings:

    Live coverage is over42 updates
    • Jack Baer

      Jack Baer

      The Cleveland Guardians’ outfielder struggled last season and ultimately ended it with surgery for plantar fasciitis, but he’s staying in the AL Central on a one-year, $5.25 million deal with the Kansas City Royals, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.

      The deal reportedly contains $1 million in incentives.

    • Sean Leahy

      Sean Leahy

      The Atlanta Braves and closer Robert Suárez have agreed to a three-year, $45 million deal.

      The 24-year-old Suárez has spent his entire four-season MLB career with the San Diego Padres. He made 70 appearances during the 2025 season, recording a career-high 40 saves in 69 23 innings pitched.

    • Sean Leahy

      Sean Leahy

      According to ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez, the 32-year-old Glasnow could be offloaded this offseason. He could make up to $60 million over the next two seasons, with his contract featuring a $30 million club option or a $21.6 million player option in 2028.

      With talk of Tarik Skubal potentially being on the move this winter, could Glasnow be a piece that would interest the Tigers a deal?

      Glasnow has made 40 starts for the Dodgers over the past two seasons. He was 4-3 in 18 starts in 2025 with a 1.10 WHIP and 106 strikeouts. He held opponents to a .177 batting average in 90 1/3 innings pitched.

    • Jack Baer

      Jack Baer

      After a season split between the San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals, outfielder Mike Yastrzemski has agreed to a two-year, $23 million deal with the Atlanta Braves, according to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman.

    • Jack Baer

      Jack Baer

    • Jack Baer

      Jack Baer

      Remember Joey Gallo? He’s back, in pitcher form!

      The former All-Star slugger is still trying to come back as a pitcher, a position at which a 30% strikeout rate is a good thing. Per the New York Post’s Jon Heyman, he’s drawing interest.

    • Chris Cwik

      Chris Cwik

      The New York Mets won’t have Pete Alonso next season. After beginning his career with New York, Alonso left the team Wednesday, agreeing to a $155 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles.

      With Alonso off to Baltimore, the Mets are considering Paul Goldschmidt as a possible replacement at first base.

      Goldschmidt, 38, spent last season with the crosstown Yankees, hitting .274/.328/.403 over 534 plate appearances.

      If the Mets sign Goldschmidt, the team would consider platooning him with utilityman Jeff McNeil. Goldschmidt was incredibly effective against lefties in 2025, hitting .336.

    • Chris Cwik

      Chris Cwik

      Pete Alonso bet on himself in 2025, and it paid off in a major way. Alonso reportedly agreed to a five-year, $155 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported.

      The contract comes a year after Alonso, 30, struggled to secure a long-term deal on the free-agent market.

      With the move, the Orioles finally have their big-name free agent. Baltimore reportedly made a competitive offer for Kyle Schwarber before he signed a five-year, $150 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies and had contacted outfielder Kyle Tucker about a deal. With the Alonso deal, Baltimore finally got its star slugger.

      Alonso fits in well with the Orioles, who were looking for an upgrade over Ryan Mountcastle at first base. While Mountcastle has shown flashes as a hitter in the past, he was well below league average in that area last season. Alonso immediately gives the team a middle-of-the-order power bat capable of posting big numbers regardless of ballpark. That should work out well in Baltimore, where righties have had a tough time hitting home runs since the team altered the wall in left field.

      Read more.

    • Chris Cwik

      Chris Cwik

      Former New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso appears to be a popular target at the winter meetings. But of all the teams interested in him, the Mets, Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox have emerged as favorites to sign the first baseman, per MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.

      Alonso, 31, is coming off a season in which he hit .272/.347/.524. It was a comeback year for Alonso, who struggled in 2024, tying his career-low with a 122 wRC+.

      That led the first baseman to take a lesser deal on the free-agent market last winter. That deal included an opt-out after the first season, allowing Alonso to rebuild his value before hitting the free-agent market again this winter.

      This time around, Alonso seems like a safe bet to secure the contract he sought last winter. It helps that at least three teams seem to be fighting for his services.

    • Jack Baer

      Jack Baer

      It’s reportedly a two-year, $19 million contract with $1 million in incentives for Finnegan, per Fansided’s Robert Murray.

      That’s a nice windfall for a reliever who was good for the Tigers in the regular season but faltered a bit in the ALDS.

    • Jack Baer

      Jack Baer

      The Tigers acquired Kyle Finnegan at the trade deadline this year and appear to want some more innings from him. The team is closing in on a deal with the reliever, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.

    • Jack Baer

      Jack Baer

      With a new president of baseball operations embarking on a new era, the Nationals appear likely to trade starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore this winter. According to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, their geographic rival is a potential trade partner.

      Trading Gore to the Baltimore Orioles would be notable for reasons beyond what’s on the field, as the two franchises have been in something of a standoff since the Nats came to town, with tensions exacerbated by a perpetual feud over a TV deal resolved earlier this year.

    • Jack Baer

      Jack Baer

      The Dodgers struck big Tuesday with the Edwin Diaz deal but still have a notable need in the outfield. They landed the biggest reliever on the market, so why not add Kyle Tucker, the biggest outfielder on the market?

      Per The Athletic, the defending champions are interested in Tucker, but not on a six- or seven-year deal. They’d instead be willing to go for a three- or four-year pact with a high average annual value. This isn’t the first time they’ve tried to make that pitch, though, and most players turn them down.

      Still, it’s something to watch if Tucker’s market doesn’t develop as hoped.

    • Jack Baer

      Jack Baer

      A lot of teams appear to want one of the best second basemen in baseball.

    • Jack Baer

      Jack Baer

      The Marlins are engaged in trade talks with the Baltimore Orioles and other clubs about starting pitcher Edward Cabrera, according to The Athletic. Cabrera was solid in 2025 with a 3.53 ERA in 137 2/3 innings but also hit the injured list twice, once with an elbow sprain.

      It’s unclear what the Marlins are asking for and how ready they are to pull the trigger, but teams value controllable starting pitchers highly enough that it makes sense they’re looking into it. Cabrera is under team control through 2028.

    • Jack Baer

      Jack Baer

    • Jack Baer

      Jack Baer

      The Pirates didn’t get Kyle Schwarber today, but they did get New York Mets reliever Gregory Soto! The two-time All-Star gets $7.75 million from the Bucs after posting a 4.18 ERA and 3.91 xERA in 60 1/3 innings last season.

      He is not the best reliever to leave the Mets today.

    • Jack Baer

      Jack Baer

      The Ketel Marte market still seems to be forming, but MLB Network’s Jon Morosi says the Red Sox are seen as a strong contender.

    • Jack Baer

      Jack Baer

      The White Sox entered the 2026 MLB Draft Lottery with the best odds for the top pick, at 27.73%. It worked out for them, as they received their first No. 1 pick since 1977 (Harold Baines) on Tuesday.

      Here’s the top 10:

      1. Chicago White Sox
      2. Tampa Bay Rays
      3. Minnesota Twins
      4. San Francisco Giants
      5. Pittsburgh Pirates
      6. Kansas City Royals
      7. Baltimore Orioles
      8. Athletics
      9. Atlanta Braves
      10. Colorado Rockies

      Read more here.

  • Fantasy Football Week 15 PPR Rankings Hub: Advice to help with your start-sit questions

    We’ve rounded up all of our fantasy football rankings in one place, so you can get the start-sit advice you want when setting your Week 15 lineup. Below you’ll find Yahoo consensus rankings for point-per-reception scoring.

    [Upgrade to Fantasy Plus and gain your edge in player projections and much more]

    Prefer to get advice from a particular analyst rather than the group? No problem. There are links to rankings from Justin Boone, Matt Harmon, Scott Pianowski and Joel Smyth below.

    More Week 15 advice

    Rankings from each Yahoo Fantasy analyst

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    Consensus Half-PPR Rankings

    Consensus PPR Rankings

    Justin Boone's Rest-of-season rankings

    PPR Consensus Rankings

    Note: You can check out our consensus half-PPR rankings right here.

  • Fantasy Football Week 15 Full PPR Running Back Rankings

    We’ve rounded up all of our fantasy football rankings in one place, so you can get the start-sit advice you want when setting your Week 15 lineup. Below you’ll find Yahoo consensus running back rankings for point-per-reception scoring. Good luck in your fantasy football playoff matchup!

    [Upgrade to Fantasy Plus and gain your edge in player projections and much more]

    Prefer to get advice from a particular analyst rather than the group? No problem. There are links to rankings from Justin Boone, Matt Harmon, Scott Pianowski and Joel Smyth below.

    More Week 15 advice

    Rankings from each Yahoo Fantasy analyst

    Advertisement

    Consensus Half-PPR Rankings

    Consensus PPR Rankings

    Justin Boone's Rest-of-season rankings

    Consensus PPR Rankings for RB

    Note: You can check out our consensus half-PPR rankings right here.

  • Fantasy Football Week 15 Full PPR Wide Receiver Rankings

    We’ve rounded up all of our fantasy football rankings in one place, so you can get the start-sit advice you want when setting your Week 15 lineup. Below you’ll find Yahoo consensus wide receiver rankings for point-per-reception scoring. Good luck in your fantasy football playoff matchup!

    [Upgrade to Fantasy Plus and gain your edge in player projections and much more]

    Prefer to get advice from a particular analyst rather than the group? No problem. There are links to rankings from Justin Boone, Matt Harmon, Scott Pianowski and Joel Smyth below.

    More Week 15 advice

    Rankings from each Yahoo Fantasy analyst

    Advertisement

    Consensus Half-PPR Rankings

    Consensus PPR Rankings

    Justin Boone's Rest-of-season rankings

    Consensus PPR Rankings for WR

    Note: You can check out our consensus half-PPR rankings right here.

  • Fantasy Football Week 15 Full PPR Tight End Rankings

    We’ve rounded up all of our fantasy football rankings in one place, so you can get the start-sit advice you want when setting your Week 15 lineup. Below you’ll find Yahoo consensus tight end rankings for point-per-reception scoring. Good luck in your fantasy football playoff matchup!

    [Upgrade to Fantasy Plus and gain your edge in player projections and much more]

    Prefer to get advice from a particular analyst rather than the group? No problem. There are links to rankings from Justin Boone, Matt Harmon, Scott Pianowski and Joel Smyth below.

    More Week 15 advice

    Rankings from each Yahoo Fantasy analyst

    Advertisement

    Consensus Half-PPR Rankings

    Consensus PPR Rankings

    Justin Boone's Rest-of-season rankings

    Consensus PPR Rankings for TE

    Note: You can check out our consensus half-PPR rankings right here.

  • Fantasy Football Week 15 Full PPR FLEX Rankings

    We’ve rounded up all of our fantasy football rankings in one place, so you can get the start-sit advice you want when setting your Week 15 lineup. Below you’ll find Yahoo consensus running back rankings for point-per-reception scoring. Good luck in your fantasy football playoff matchup!

    [Upgrade to Fantasy Plus and gain your edge in player projections and much more]

    Prefer to get advice from a particular analyst rather than the group? No problem. There are links to rankings from Justin Boone, Matt Harmon, Scott Pianowski and Joel Smyth below.

    More Week 15 advice

    Rankings from each Yahoo Fantasy analyst

    Advertisement

    Consensus Half-PPR Rankings

    Consensus PPR Rankings

    Justin Boone's Rest-of-season rankings

    Consensus PPR FLEX Rankings

    Note: You can check out our consensus half-PPR rankings right here.

  • Fantasy Football Week 15 Half-PPR Rankings

    It feels like just yesterday we were drafting our fantasy football teams, filled with optimism and excitement. Well, if you’re still hanging around these rankings parts, you likely made it to your league’s playoffs. Congratulations! Decisions will be paramount this week in the first round of the postseaso,n so let’s help you through those roster calls.

    [Upgrade to Fantasy Plus and gain your edge in player projections and much more]

    Below you can find fantasy football consensus half-PPR rankings from Yahoo analysts Justin Boone, Scott Pianowski, Matt Harmon and Joel Smyth.

    More Week 15 advice

    Rankings from each Yahoo Fantasy analyst

    Advertisement

    Consensus Half-PPR Rankings

    Consensus PPR Rankings

    Justin Boone’s Rest-of-season rankings

    Consensus half-PPR rankings for each position

    Note: You can check out our consensus full-PPR rankings here.

  • Fantasy Football Week 15 Quarterback Rankings

    It’s been rough out there in the QB streets for fantasy football, so hopefully you’ve got some depth on your roster going into the playoffs. Colts QB Daniel Jones is done for the season with a torn Achilles. Commanders QB Jayden Daniels is having issues staying on the field in what has been a nightmare sophomore NFL season. We also saw two first-year QBs perform well enough to provide some hope as Shedeur Sanders and J.J. McCarthy both finished top-12 among QBs in fantasy in Week 14.

    That will have an impact on Week 15 and could trickle down to skill position players on those teams.

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    [Upgrade to Fantasy Plus and gain your edge in player projections and much more]

    If you have a tough call between two QBs or are looking for a streamer for the first round, not to worry. Yahoo analysts Justin Boone, Scott Pianowski, Joel Smyth and Matt Harmon have you covered with their consensus QB fantasy football rankings.

    More Week 15 advice

    Rankings from each Yahoo Fantasy analyst

    Consensus Half-PPR Rankings

    Consensus PPR Rankings

    Justin Boone’s Rest-of-season rankings

    Consensus half-PPR rankings for QB

    Note: You can check out our consensus full-PPR rankings here.